After countless interruptions, numerous wrinkle paint failures, much choking on magnesium dust, and stripping and re-foaming all of the original cases, the VistaVision Butterfly camera and all of its accessories is finally ready to find a new home! This updated Mitchell VistaVision “light-weight hand-held” production camera features a Nikon lens mount; a crystal motor with 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, and 32 fps as well as variable speed control; Fries Engineering spinning mirror reflex system; NTSC video tap; four 1000’ magazines; four 400’ magazines; a CP swing-away matte box; a clip-on matte box; two 36V battery chargers; magazines belts; power and video cables; and cases for all. In our limited research time, we have only been able to find one publication that specifically mentions these cameras, a January 1956 issue of Paramount World, which talks about how this new “light-weight hand-held VistaVision” camera was first used on the feature “The Mountain” starring Spencer Tracy, Robert Wagner, and Claire Trevor. In my distant memory, I recall an article in American Cinematographer showing the camera operator laying on his back, shooting hand-held with one of these cameras. So, while lightweight is a relative term, these cameras were certainly lighter and smaller than the elephant ear cameras. This would make a wonderful collectors piece, or a fabulous production camera.
